44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO ASSIST PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. APPROPRIATION.--

A. Eleven million two hundred ten thousand dollars ($11,210,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the department of health for expenditure in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 to provide services to developmentally disabled and elderly disabled persons waiting for services as follows:

(1) eight million eight hundred seventy thousand dollars ($8,870,000) to provide sufficient funding to the developmentally disabled population to maximize the currently approved slots for the six hundred nineteen persons on the central registry for waiver services;

(2) one million two hundred thousand dollars ($1,200,000) to provide sufficient funding to the disabled and elderly population to maximize the currently approved slots for the three hundred seventeen persons on the central registry for waiver services;

(3) four hundred thirty-one thousand dollars ($431,000) to adjust direct-care staff salaries for those who assist the developmentally disabled waiver population;

(4) two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) to adjust rates in the disabled and elderly waiver program;

(5) one hundred nine thousand dollars ($109,000) to authorize and appropriate four full-time-equivalent positions to the long-term services division to support the added caseload for the disabled and elderly waiver program; and

(6) three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000) to provide support through the eligibility process to persons on the developmentally disabled waiver central registry.

B. The department of health shall use funds granted to the department for the purpose of addressing substance abuse as it applies to the developmentally disabled and the disabled and elderly populations and to coordinate efforts on prevention of developmental and acquired disabilities through substance abuse.

C. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2000 shall revert to the general fund.

D. It is the intent of the legislature that this shall be the first year of a three-year commitment to fill the health care and financing agencies' allotted waiver slots for the developmentally disabled population and the disabled and elderly population.

Section 2. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.